Tom's of Maine grant application process

Our grant application is broken down into two sections: Categories of Giving and Grant Type. Each grant proposal must specify which Categories of Giving and Grant Type are being sought.

CATEGORIES OF GIVING
In an effort to engage creative thinking and promote the interconnectedness of the many fields in which nonprofits work, your grant proposal must integrate at least two of the following categories of giving.

The Environment:
We favor programs that address animal welfare, protection and conservation of natural resources, wildlife, wildlife habitat, and other issues related to biodiversity and a sustainable planet.

Human Needs:
We favor programs that address social issues, especially those affecting youth, people with disabilities, and indigenous people; programs related to health and well-being; and programs that enhance family and community life, nurture a sense of community among diverse groups, and build community capacity to address and solve local problems.

The Arts:
We favor programs that address performing arts (music, drama, dance) and visual arts; programs and resources for the arts; and artistic cultural programs with interactive and educational components.

Education:
We favor programs that address innovative educational programs for children and adults, especially ones that foster understanding of the natural environment and encourage community outreach.

GRANT TYPE

Core Mission Grants:
Investing in an Organization's Core Mission: Tom's of Maine supports the definition that a nonprofit is a public trust organized to serve the philanthropic intent of the community. While we promote organizational accountability and continual assessment, we also believe that a non-profit is the expert in its particular mission work and should be supported to fulfill that mission to the highest level of commitment and quality. Therefore, rather than require proposals to conform to the strictures of a discreet project grant, we welcome requests for general operating support, general program subsidy, or other unrestricted yet mission-driven activities. We will also entertain applications for capital campaigns, endowments, and scholarships under core mission grants.

Leadership Grants:
Investing in Organizational Leadership and Capacity: Tom's of Maine believes in investing in the core competencies of nonprofits. The strengths of many nonprofits lie not only in the values an organization espouses, but also in the commitment and competency of its people. Too often grants are rejected based upon inclusion of salaries in the funding proposal. At Tom's of Maine, we believe in investing in the professionals, and therefore the salaries, behind a well-run, accountable, mission-driven enterprise. By investing in strong organizational leadership, Tom's of Maine is helping to increase an organization's capacity to respond to changing organizational needs and achieve its short- and long-term strategic goals.

Project Grants:
Investing in Selected Projects for Programmatic Growth and Sustainability: Tom's of Maine will accept proposals around a specific project, be it the launch of a new program, a new population served, collaboration between two organizations with complementary missions, or any other discreet and restricted project with particular goals and a timeline for achieving such goals.

OTHER PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

Geographic location:
Tom's gives grants to U.S. organizations, though programs with an impact in Maine are a priority.

Relevancy to Tom's of Maine Mission:
Applications should demonstrate relevancy to Tom's of Maine's overall mission statement.

Type of service:
We prefer to give to organizations providing direct service to their constituency.

Grant size and multi-year consideration:
Grants range from $1,000 to $10,000. Larger grant awards per year are rare. Given our focus on core mission and leadership grants, we welcome longer-term relationships with nonprofit partners in the form of multi-year conditional commitments, typically lasting three years.

Accountability:
Just as we hold ourselves accountable to our mission and goals, we therefore expect organizations to hold themselves accountable to the purpose, goals, and activities set forth in their proposal. We would like to hear a candid appraisal of the successes, failures, and lessons learned in your proposed project, leadership, or core mission agenda. There is no prepared report form, so please use your own reporting structure and style when submitting this report. Final grant reports are expected within 30 days of completion of the nonprofit's operating year. Depending on the nature and location of the project, reports may be written or oral and may involve presentations to the Tom's of Maine community.

Exclusions:
Applications are not accepted from individuals or to support political organizations, candidates for political office, religious organizations, or activities for sectarian purposes. Tom's of Maine does not fund organizations that support animal testing or that benefit from such testing. We do not provide loans.

Site visits:
Site visits may be conducted by the Giving for Goodness Manager or by other employees of Tom's of Maine, either before final funding decisions or during the grant period.

Alternatives to grant contributions:
Tom's of Maine does not have a separate charitable foundation; therefore all corporate giving is directly related to profitable projections for the upcoming fiscal year. Tom's grant monies are limited; however, there are other ways to receive corporate support.

• Product donations, annual memberships, and sponsorships all have separate budgets with rolling deadlines and quarterly allocations—please see our Sponsorships page for more information.
• Employee volunteerism is also encouraged and supported by a 5% volunteer-time policy, and we occasionally hold volunteer fairs to introduce our employees to nonprofits in need of help. We therefore welcome requests for volunteers from any nonprofit organization.

Please contact the Giving for Goodness Manager (address below) with a written request for any of these funding alternatives.

Application Deadline and Notification of Award:
The application deadline is October 15th. Applicants will be notified by January 1st, with payout of funds during the first two quarters of the calendar year. Larger multi-year grants will be paid out during the last two quarters of the calendar year.

Contact Person:
Giving for Goodness Manager, Tom's of Maine, 302 Lafayette Center, Kennebunk, ME 04043.

Application Checklist:
Please refer to the grant application checklist to create your own application.